Uncoupling mechanism



I. H. MILLIKEN AND W .I. REGAN. v

UNCOUPLING MECHANISM.

Patented May 30, 1922.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 6, 192I.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

I. H. MILLIKEN AND W. J. REGAN. UNCOUPLING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 6. I921.

v 1,417,544. 7 y Patented May 30,1922.

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6M I t tartan sires ISAAC H. MILLIKEN, or AsrI waLL, ,aNn WILLIAM J.nnenN, or rIrr'sBURGH; PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS-TO rnnivrccoNwaY' a.TORLEY CQMIBANY, or

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, n CORPORATION OF-PENNSYLVANIA.

UNOOUPLING MECHANISM.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, lsAAo H. MiLLIKE'N and"WILLIAM J. REGAN, citizens of the United States, residing,respectively, at Aspin-wall, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, and Pittsburgh, the county of Allegheny and Stateof Penmsylvania, have invented certain new'and useful Improvements in.Uneoupli-ng Mechanism; and we do hereby declare the follow= ing to he"full, clear, and exact description of the lnventlon, such aswill enableothers skilled in the art-*toWhich it appertains to 1; make and use thesame.

Our invention relates to uncoupling mechanism for causing. the lock ofa'car coupler to perform-an unloekingbperatiOn. WVhile' mechanismconstructed in accordance with the invention is particularly welladaptedfor application to the Blaster Car Builders. standard jD-typecoupler having a bottom operated lock, it may also be employed withother types of couplers I p I The principal object of the invention isto afi'olrd simple, compactand eflicient means enabling the trainman toactuate the lock of other so as to prevent their accidentaldis assooiation.

The primary feature of theinvention, generally state l, consists inactuating the look of the car coupler by means of a rotatable 3 memberwhichis supported rearwardly"oi the said lock by means adapted to swinglength-- wise of the car, means inovableiwith respect to said swingingmeans being provided rm.- engaging and actuating the rotatablejmembeii Afurther feature of the invention (301lsists in operating th'e loclcofacar coupler by a rotatable memberwhich is supported rea'rwar'dly of thelock bya link device ca pable of swingingl'engthwise of the ear, the

said link device having means movably' mounted thereon for actuatingsaid rotatable member and affording a support for an. uncoupling leveradapted to operate said means and serving to maintain the latter 1nassem bled relation. I

Specification of Letterslatent; Pat efited Application filed October 6,1921. Serial 110,595,691. i

There'are other features of-the invention residing in particularcombinations of parts and in CltlllS'Of construetmn, all as; Wlllhereinafter appear.

In the drawings illustratingthe invention,

the scope whereof is pointed out in the claims,' i .H Figure 1 is aview, partly"in side el vatiqn and partly in vertieal section, of [anunooupling mechanism embodying the invention, the form of car-couplerillustrated beingthe" well known Master "Car, Builders standarrl Figure2 is a view, partlyin side elevation and partly invertical section; of aportion of the-mechanism seen in Fig: l, the parts beI-i ing shown inthe positions ,assurned when the coupler, lock has performed anunlocking movement.

Figure 313a detail section l the line, 3 3 .F I

support 'an dof the rockingmember mounted fhereonlfor actuating thevertically rota 7,80 Figure :5 is a' 'detail' view, partly in"elevatablemember being broken away. f

v 17.5 Figure 4-is a-d etail sectionalyview on-the-. line 44-, F1g. 1POIlDlOITSOf tllQSWlliQlng.

,tion and partly in vertical central section;

the rear oortion'ot the mechanism.

Figure 6. is a detail sectional view on the" line 66, Fig. 1, thecouplerearrierironbe;

ingomitted and portions of the coupler saddle and of theuncoupling-levers being brokenaway. I

loeltQ. Movably connected to th'elower end of said lock and "projectingdownwardly therefrom through the coupler head in the usual way is a link3 which is 'pivotally eon-. nected to a swinging lift lever/i that isit;

self pivoted tothe under side'of the coupler 163d. The link] 3 p andswinging lift lever ,4

ingmovement it" m'ay be provided near. the rear end of its'sh'ank -witl1a-p1vot pin-open ing '5 adapted to receive a tail pin (not.

( is. a sectional viefw 'on the' line In thedrawings 'l'i'ndi eates carcoupler otthe D-typ'e. It isprovlded with the usualshown) whereby thecoupleri-maybeipivotally connected to the draft rigging in the commonlyknown manner.

Movably connected to the lift lever 4 is a vertically rotatable member 6which is swingingly supported rearwardly of the lock 2 by'a link device7 through which it projects and with which it has slidable engagement.For the purpose of operatively connecting the rotatable member 6 tothelift lever 4 the former is preferably provided at its forward end with ahook 8 adapted to cooperate with the eye 9' with which the member 4 iscustomarily formed. By means of this hook and eye connection the members4 and 6 are interlockingly connected so that they may not becomeaccidentally disassoeiated when the device is in service. I

The swinging means 7 for supportmg the vertically rotatable member 6 mayconveniently be-provided at its upper end with a hook 10 which isadapted to cooperate with a transversely elongated eye11 formed on acoupler-saddle 12 mounted on the coupler carrier iron 13 so as to movetransversely of the car when the coupler swings laterally.

This affords a simple eonstrimtion for per mitting the supporting means7 to swing both lengthwise and transversely of the car and to turn uponits vertical axisconform ably to the var1ous angular positions which therotatablemember 6 may assume when the coupler swings sidewise. Bysuspending the member 7 from the transversely movable coupler saddleinstead of directly connecting it to the carrier iron 13, a very widerangevof swinging movement of the coupler may be accommodated withoutcausing the said member 7 to depart greatly from a vertical position.v

T-he swinging supporting means 7 is preferably provided with a convexseat 14 upon which the vertically rotatable member 6 slid-, ably bears.To afford greater ease of open ation the bearing seat 1 1 is rounded andpreferably is located slightly forward of the vertical axis of. themember 7 so that the member 6 retains its bearing upon the seat duringan unlocking operation ofthe parts. The link device 7 through which therotatable member 6 extends, preferably is provided with spaced sides 15having apertures 16 adapted to permit the insertion and removal of theupwardly extending ends 17 of uncoupling levers 18. These uncouplinglevers extend towards the sides of the car and preferably are of thewell. known form illustrated in the I. H. Milliken Patent No.

v 1,184,116, dated M y 23, 1916- Movably mounted upon the swingingsupporting member 7 between the sides 15 ter of rocking movement withaportion 20 wh1eh extends under andis adapted to e11- gage the member 6,and said member 19 is also formed rearwardly of said center with performan unlocking rotat1on.

T he vertically rotatable member 6 extends between the spaced sides 22of the rocking member 19 and through an opening 23 in the back ofthelatter, the side walls 22 preferably being spaced sufiiciently farapart and the opening 23 preferably being of suitable size to permit therotatable member ,6 to angle somewhat with respect to the member 19 whenthecoupler swings laterally. ,The member 19 is provided at oppositesides with apertures 2 1 which are in alineinent with the apertures, 16of the swinging sup port and are adapted to receive the inner ends ofthe uncoupling levers 18. \Vhen the uncoupling levers arevin assembledrelation they extend through the apertures 16 and 2t and thus serve toform an operative connectionbetween the rocking member 19 and theswinging support 7. =Below the openings 2st the member 19 is formed onopposite sides with rounded faces 25 which bear 'upon' the swingingsupporting link 7.

The rocking member 19 may be provided with stop lugs 26 which, byengaging the respective sides 15 of. the link device 7, serve to limitthe rockingrmovement of the member 19 with respect to the link device.

In assembling the mechanism the hook 8' of the rotatable uncouplingmember r6 is hooked through the eye 9 at the rearend of the pivoted locklift lever 4:. The swinging supporting member 7 is then slid over therear, end of the rotatable member 6 and is turned laterally until itisat right'angles to coupler saddle 12. The rocking'member 19 by whichthe rotatable member 6 is actuated may then he slid over the rear end ofsaid rotatable member and seated upon the swinging support 7, afterwhich the upturned ends 17 of the uncoupling rods 18 are introducedthrough the openings 16 and in the link device 7 and rocking member 19,respectively, and their outer ends are parts are interlockingly'held inplace.

The member 19 may be rocked with respect to the swinging link device 7by either of the uncoupling lBV8IS 'l8. 7 Upon properly manipulatingeither of these lev'ersits"upturned end 17 pressesagainst the 'rearwallof the rocking member 19 and causes the lug portions 20 and 21of thelatter to engage the vertically rotatable member 6, 'compelling it toperform an unlocking rotation "thereby actuating the pivoted lift leverAland link 3 and inducing the couplerlock 2 to perform an unlockingmovement. When the uncoupling lever is released after an uncoupllngmovement the parts return'to normal position, the 'rotationofthe member19 With' respect to the swinging support 7 being limited by the stoplugs 26.

In draft and buifing movements ofthe coupler l the rotatable member 6slides longitudinally of the car with respect to the swin in link device7 as ma 7 be necessar D g 5 y ably connecting "831d plvotallyi-mountedDuring an unlocking operation the member 7 may swing lengthwise ofthecar-to the ex tent which may be required to permitthe otally connectedto said coupler, a link interforwardend' of the rotatable'member Gto'accommodate itself to the path of movement ofthe eye 9 of the pivotedlock lift'lever 4.

means, for moving said lock to unlocked position, said means involving amember pivposed between and movably connecting'said pivoted member andsaid look, arotatable member'operatively connected to saidlock,

means adapted to swinglengthwise of the' car engaging and supportingsaid rotatable member rearwardly of said lock, and means movable w1threspect to said swmgmg means for engaging and actuating said'rotatable Imember.

2. In an uncoupling mecl1anism,-the. com- 'bination with a car couplerand its lock,of means for movlng said lock to'unlocked position, saidmeans involving a rotatable member op'eratively connected to said lock,g I 7 means for IHOVlTlgStLlCllOCk toun'lockedposwinging means slida-blyengaged by said-rotat-'ableme'mber, an "uncoupling lever,'and

uncoupling lever for effecting an unl0ck-' "member rearwardlyofs'aid'lock, an uncou- 3. In an uncoupling mechanism, the combinationwith a car coupler and its lock, of means for moving said lock tounlocked position, said means involving a rotatable mg movement of saidrotatable member.

member operatively connected to said lock and extending rearwardlytherefrom, means adapted to swing lengthwise of the car for engaging andslidably supporting said ro- V g ps tatable member "rearwardly' of saidlock, m'eans "carried by said swinging .means and {adapted to" rock withrespect to 'thlelitte'r 'for' causing said rotatable member'- to=perform anunloc'kingmovement, and} means for -7 0 actuatingsaidrookingmeans. 4 4C. In an uncoupling mechanism, the com bination with a carcouplerand its 1o ck,'of 7 means for moving said lock to unlockedpo--member to said lock, a'rotatable memb'er op eratijvely connected tosaidpivotally mount ed member and extending rearwardly there- 7 from, meansadapted 'to swing l6ngtl'1W1S6'95 of the car engaging andforming asupport for said rotatable members, and means'carjried by" and movablewith respect -to said svvmgmg'means adapted to engageiand actu-I form anunlocking rotation.

6. In an uncoupling mechanism, th'e*com- 'bination with a'car couplerand its'lock, of ineans for moving saidlockto unlocked position, saidmeans involving a me'm'ber piv 105 'otally' mounted on saidcoupler andopera-, tively c'onnectedto' said look, a vertically 'rotatablememberadapted to actuate said piv- -otally mounted membenswin'ging means en- 1gaging and forming fa'jsupport' for said r0-5110 I tatablememberrearwardlyofsaid lock,'and

means rotatable witlrlrespe'ct to said swinging' means engaging saidvertically rotatable member for'actuating'the latter. I i

- 7. In an uncoupling mechanism, the com-9115 bin'ation' with'aearcoupler and itsl'ock, of

sition, said means "involving rotatable member operatively connected tosaid'lock,

"means" adapted fi0= swing lengthwise of "the" car affording a supportfor saidmotatable pling lever journaled' on 1 saidswinging means, andmeans movably mounted on sa1d means for moving said lock to unlocked p0130' 's'ition'," said means involving a Y verticall Iro- 7 5 mg saidrotatable member rea'rWardIy-Of-SO ate said rotatablemem'ber'to cause'ittoper-loo swiiiging' 'means' adapted to be'actuated by sition, saidmeans involving a rotatable member operatively connected to said look, amember located rearwardly of said lock and adapted to swing lengthwiseof the car,

, a rocking device {or actuating said rotatable member, said devicebeing adapted toiroclr with respect to said swingingineans, andanuncoupling lever adapted to actuate said rocking device, saiduncouplinglever constituting means for connecting said rocking device tosaid swinging means.

,9. In an uncoupling mechanism, the com- .bination with car-[coupler andits lock, of means for moving said lock to unlocked position, said meansinvolving a rotatable men1- ber operatively connected to said lock, amember located rearwardly of s'aidlock and adapted to swing lengthwiseof the car, means for actuating said rotatable member, and a pluralityof uncoupling levers each adapted to operate said act'uating means, saidactuating means being rotatably connected to said swinging means by saidleve s.

10. In an uncoupling mechanism, the combination with a car coupler, itslock and carrier iron, of means for moving saidlock to unlockedposition, said means involving a vertically rotatable member operativelyconnected-to said lock and extending rear- .wardly. therefrom, a linkmovably connected to said carrier iron so as to swing lengthwise of thecar, amember rockingly'mounted on said link and having portions betweenwhich said rotatable member extends, and a plurality of uncouplinglevers adapted to actuate said rocking member to cause said rotatablemember to perform an unlocking movement, said link and said rockingmember having openings through which said uncoupling lever extends.

11. In an uncoupling mechanism, the combination with a car coupler andits lock, of means for moving said lock to unlocked position, said meansinvolving a rotatable member operatively connected to said look,

I a link located rearwardly of said lock and adapted to swing lengthwiseof the car, said link having spaced sides provided with apertures, arocking member movably disposed betweenthe spaced sides of said link andhaving portions between which said rotatable member extends, and aplurality of uncoupling levers for actuating said rocking member tocause said rotatable member to perform an unlocking movement, saiduncoupling levers being adapted to extend through said apertures in thesides of said link and serving to maintain said rocking memberinassembled relation.

12. In an uncoupling mechanism, the comable lengthwise of the car withrespectto said rocking device and the latter being provided withportions between which said rotatable member extends and being alsoprovided with means for limiting the extent of? its rocking movementwith respect to said swinging link, and a plurality of uncoupling leversextending through the apertures of said swinging link and adapted toactuate said rocking device.

13. In an uncoupling mechanism, the com-,

bination with a car coupler and its lock, of

-means for moving said lock to unlocked positi on,said means involving arotatable meme ber operatively connected to said lock, means adapted toswing lengthwise of the car ton supportlng said rotatable member rearywardly of said look, a member mounted on said swmgmg means so as to rockwith respect thereto and adapted to engage and actuate said rotatablemember, means for limiting the rocking movement of said rocking memberwith respect to said swinging means, and means for actuating saidrocking member to cause saidrotatable' member to perform an unlockingmovement I 1%. In an uncoupling mechanism, the combination with a carcoupler and its lock, of means for moving said lock tounlocked position,said means involvinga vertically rotatable member operatively connectedto saidlock and extending rearwardly therefrom,

vmeans adapted to swing lengthwise of the .car affording a support forsaid rotatable member rearwardly of said lock, saidswinging means havinga convex seat which is slidably engaged by said rotatable memberamemberrockingly mounted on said swinging means and adapted to engage andactuate said rotatable member, and means for actuating said rockingmember.

In testimony whereof we ailix eur signatures.

ISAAC H. MILLIKEN. WILLIAM, J. REGAN.

